Dec 18

Dec 18 My Trip To Necker Island: Sir Richard Branson's Authentic & Inclusive Caribbean Paradise

As CEO of EliteLyfe, I’ve had the good fortune to visit some of the most exclusive vacation destinations on the planet in order to ensure the facilities and services on offer are at the standards that our elite clientele expect (and deserve).

This is a hugely important part of our work; we don’t promote products based solely on their location. In the world of luxury travel, attention to detail is everything. It’s essential that the villas and resorts in our portfolio are thoroughly vetted beyond the beautiful photos to make sure they are of the highest standards.

To do this, I or one of the other senior members of the EliteLyfe team have to personally take a tour of the properties we represent so we know first-hand what our clients will discover when they arrive. I know what you’re thinking and yes, it’s a hard life but somebody’s gotta do it.

With that in mind, last week I spent a few days on Necker Island: Sir Richard Branson’s stunning private island resort in the Caribbean. Necker Island has been in our portfolio of private islands for a while now - I’ve actually been here before - but after Hurricane Irma caused extensive damage in 2018, the island underwent significant remodeling and restructuring. I was invited to fly down to the British Virgin Islands to check out what’s new at Necker.

While Necker Island feels a world away from city life, it’s actually very easy to get there. I flew from Miami to San Juan airport in Puerto Rico which took just over two hours. From there I took a 30-minute connecting flight to Beef Island in the British Virgin Islands, passed through customs, and onto a boat that took us the rest of the way to Necker.

Just to say, on this occasion I had to take the connecting flight to Beef Island because of the situation with the corona virus pandemic. Under normal circumstances, I would have been collected from San Juan airport by a sea plane and dropped directly on the shore at Necker Island. There’s also a helipad on Necker, so the final part of the trip can be made by helicopter from pretty much any of the international airports in the area.

All I can say is wow. Arriving at Necker Island on a boat was truly a magical experience. Surrounded by the crystal-clear water of the Caribbean Sea, with lush tropical islands all around, it gave me a sense of where I was going rather than just getting out of a plane, into a van, and on to the final destination. On the 25-minute boat ride we had cold drinks and great conversation from the staff; a phenomenon that would come to define my stay on Necker Island (but more about that later).

Upon arrival, I was taken to the Great House where I had a meet and greet with the staff, served champagne and canopies, and was given an overview of what’s new at Necker Island. The resort has extended its accommodation to now host 40 adults and six children in a variety of properties. The Great House now has twelve bedrooms and a bunk room, while nine Balinese-style villas situated around the island complete the capacity.

Do you know the story of how Mr. Branson bought and developed Necker? It’s pretty wild. The island was listed for $6 million and he managed to buy it for $180,000. That’s a 97% discount. Rumor has it that the island’s villas were built from the proceeds of sales from Richard’s record label, Virgin Records. When artists like the Rolling Stones and the Spice Girls went platinum, they used the money to expand Necker’s accommodation. It’s literally the house that rock and roll built…

Necker Island has its own solar and wind farms that make it 100% self-sustainable for power. The amenities and facilities available are second to none, including a beach house with tennis courts, a watersports center with professional instructors, and a gym with a yoga platform that faces the sunrise.

The Great House has a pool table and a snooker table (for the British), and a chess set in every social hub around the island. One thing I learned about Mr. Branson while I was there, he loves chess, and considers it important in nurturing a focused, methodical mind for business. He inspired me to take it up. When I go back, you bet I’ll beat him over the board!

I find that the best way to get to know a place is to simply take a walk around. I took a guided hiking tour of Necker Island and it was this that made me truly fall in love with the place. The walking is easygoing yet pays off as there are endless perspectives to discover that capture unique and breathtaking views of the area. It’s so beautiful, with an endless spectrum of vivid blues and lush greens that can’t help but make you relax. Upon returning from one of my daily walks, I think I actually got a little bit younger...

There’s nothing sterile about Necker Island; it felt like one of the most natural places I’ve ever been to in the Caribbean. Everything feels authentic, like a genuine immersion into nature. One of the most striking things about the island is the wildlife. The team is dedicated to repopulating the area with rare animals and so it’s not uncommon to see flamingos, giant tortoises, parrots, turtles, and lemurs. Feeding the animals became a highlight of my trip as I got to know them all by name and found what I think is my spirit animal; Marley, a cockatoo with a distinctly British accent.

While the days are as active or as peaceful as you wish on Necker Island, as the brochure says, you didn’t come here just to sleep. At night, a DJ comes to get people in the mood to unwind and let go. It seems like all the staff love this part of their job as they are often the ones who get the party started by dancing. It’s infectious and soon everyone was in the party spirit.

This brings me to what I think is one of the most defining features of Necker beyond the beautiful island and first-rate facilities. The staff are all warm, friendly, and are invited to express their personalities at all times. While some destinations prefer the cold, removed style of service, Mr. Branson likes to create a family-like vibe that’s warm and inclusive. I have to admit, I loved this approach. It made me feel like I was at home and it’s nice to have a smile and a genuine greeting from everyone as you go about your day.

While I do love those sunny days on the beach, there’s nothing more I enjoy than a good meal and I wasn’t disappointed. The food on Necker Island is top-notch. Every time I had a meal it was served in a different location around the island and there was always a menu with a broad selection of dishes to choose from.

I ate some plated dinners with carefully selected wines on Necker Island that were exquisitely delivered. Mr. Branson prefers a less formal family-style meal where he feels like everyone can get involved. I did not have a single bad meal on Necker, and that includes casual barbecues and poolside snacks. The cuisine I ate included Mediterranean, Caribbean, Italian, Thai, Mexican, and Japanese.

The drinks were also sublime, with what seemed like a never-ending list of cocktails and fresh fruit beverages. My two favorites were the Painkiller (like a rum punch) and the Bushwhacker (like a chocolate milkshake but with alcohol). Like all the staff at Necker, the bartenders were a lot of fun. I even got behind the bar at one point and made my own drink!

Now that I’m back in Miami, I have to admit, Necker Island isn’t like anywhere else I’ve visited in the world. Yes, I’ve been to beautiful places, but Necker is special, and anyone interested in an authentic travel experience that is warm, friendly, and inclusive should check it out.

If you would like further information on the range of properties available for a vacation on Necker Island, please reach out to me or the EliteLyfe team at your earliest convenience. I promise you, you will not be disappointed, it captures the essence of the Caribbean like nowhere else I’ve ever been.